Study of Permanent Shear Thinning of VM Polymer Solutions

Using the unique features of the USV, researchers were able to clearly quantify the permanent shear thinning of high molecular weight polymer solutions.  Further investigations using a standard GPC process (gel permeation chromatography) revealed that the polymer breakdown process is very different at low and high polymer concentrations. The paper finally put to rest the argument whether it is the applied shear rate or shear stress which determines shear thinning (spoiler alert: it’s the shear stress).

Open Access Link:
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11249-017-0888-7.pdf